Understanding Australian Standards for Security Doors: AS 5039 Explained
A plain-English guide to the Australian Standards for security doors, covering AS 5039, AS 5040 and AS 5041, the six forced-entry tests, what compliance really means versus marketing 'security' flyscreens, and why a licensed installer matters.
Key product notes
- AS 5039 is the Australian Standard that sets the construction and performance requirements for security screen doors and window grilles, including a battery of forced-entry tests.
- It works alongside AS 5040 (correct installation) and AS 5041 (the laboratory test methods). A door is only genuinely 'compliant' when the product, its hardware and its installation all meet the relevant standard.
- Many products marketed as 'security' screens are insect flyscreens with a sturdier look and have never passed AS 5039 testing.
- Shire Security Doors and Screens installs AS 5039 tested products under NSW Master Security Licence #000105713. Call 0410 474 256 or email steve@shiredoors.com.au.
What is AS 5039?
AS 5039 is the Australian Standard that defines how security screen doors and window grilles must be built and how they must perform under attack. A genuine security door is tested to AS 5039 against a series of forced-entry tests, including a dynamic impact equivalent to a determined intruder, and Prowler Proof ForceField is independently tested to the forced-entry requirements of AS 5039. If a product has not passed AS 5039, it is a screen that looks secure rather than a security door.
The standard exists so that homeowners can tell the difference between a tested barrier and a flyscreen with a marketing label. When you ask to see compliance documentation, you are asking for proof that the exact product has been independently tested to this benchmark.
- Sets construction and performance rules for security screen doors and window grilles
- Requires a battery of forced-entry tests, not just a sturdy appearance
- Tested products are independently certified, with documentation available
- ForceField is independently tested to the forced-entry requirements of AS 5039
AS 5039, AS 5040 and AS 5041: what is the difference?
Three related standards govern security screens, and all three matter. AS 5039 covers the product itself, the construction and the performance it must achieve. AS 5040 covers installation, because even a perfectly built door is not secure if it is fixed badly into the wrong frame. AS 5041 sets out the laboratory test methods used to verify performance.
Compliance is therefore not a single tick on a brochure. A door is only genuinely compliant when the product meets AS 5039, the test methods of AS 5041 have been applied, and the installation meets AS 5040. This is why product certification and licensed installation go hand in hand.
- AS 5039: construction and performance of security screen doors and window grilles
- AS 5040: correct installation of those doors and grilles
- AS 5041: the test methods used to prove performance
- True compliance needs all three, not just a product label
What are the six security tests?
AS 5039 puts a security screen door through a sequence of forced-entry tests that simulate the methods a real intruder uses. Passing all of them is what separates a security door from a decorative grille. The tests check the mesh, the frame, the corners and the way the screen is held together under sustained pressure and impact.
These tests are deliberately demanding because the door has one job: to resist long enough that an intruder gives up or is noticed. A product that fails any one of them is not an AS 5039 security door.
- Impact (dynamic) test: repeated heavy impacts simulating a body or tool strike
- Jemmy test: a lever forced into the frame to prise the screen open
- Pull test: a sustained pulling force on the mesh and frame
- Probe test: a sharp implement pushed through the mesh to make an opening
- Shear test: force applied to test the mesh and frame joints
- Knife shear test: a blade drawn across the mesh to test cut resistance
Compliance versus marketing 'security' flyscreens
Plenty of products are sold as 'security' screens that have never been tested to AS 5039. They may use a slightly heavier mesh or a chunkier frame, but without passing the six tests they offer little more than insect protection and a false sense of safety. The word 'security' on a label is not the same as a certificate.
The practical test for a homeowner is simple: ask for the AS 5039 test documentation for the specific product being quoted. A genuine security door supplier can produce it. If a quote is unusually cheap and the documentation cannot be supplied, you are almost certainly looking at an insect screen with a security badge.
- Tested AS 5039 door: passes all six forced-entry tests, documentation available
- Marketing 'security' flyscreen: heavier-looking insect screen, no AS 5039 pass
- Always ask to see the test report for the exact product
Why licensed installation matters
A door that passes AS 5039 in a laboratory can still fail in your home if it is installed incorrectly. AS 5040 exists precisely because fixing method, sub-frame preparation, three-point fixing and seal alignment all determine whether the door performs as tested. In NSW, security work is regulated, and a licensed installer is accountable for doing it to standard.
Shire Security Doors and Screens installs under NSW Master Security Licence #000105713 and is an NSSA member, so you are dealing with a qualified specialist rather than a handyman. As a Prowler Proof Authorised Dealer, every installation carries the manufacturer's 10-year full replacement warranty plus our workmanship guarantee.
- AS 5040 governs correct, secure installation
- NSW security work requires a licensed operator
- Master Security Licence #000105713 and NSSA membership
- Prowler Proof Authorised Dealer with a 10-year warranty
Related services
Related guides
- The True Cost of a Cheap Security Door: Why Compliance Matters
- Prowler Proof ForceField Security Doors and Screens: Complete Product Guide
- Prowler Proof Protec Security Screens: Perforated Aluminium Product Guide
Frequently asked questions
What is AS 5039?
AS 5039 is the Australian Standard that sets the construction and performance requirements for security screen doors and window grilles. A door tested to AS 5039 must pass a sequence of forced-entry tests, including a dynamic impact test, proving it resists real intrusion methods rather than just looking sturdy.
What is the difference between AS 5039, AS 5040 and AS 5041?
AS 5039 covers the product's construction and performance, AS 5040 covers correct installation, and AS 5041 sets out the laboratory test methods. A door is only genuinely compliant when the product, the test verification and the installation all meet their respective standards, not just one of them.
What are the six security tests in AS 5039?
AS 5039 tests a door against six forced-entry methods: a dynamic impact test, a jemmy (lever) test, a pull test, a probe test, a shear test and a knife shear test. A genuine security door must pass all six, which is what separates it from a decorative or insect screen.
Is a 'security' flyscreen the same as an AS 5039 door?
No. Many products marketed as 'security' screens are insect flyscreens with a heavier look and have never passed AS 5039 testing. The word 'security' on a label means nothing without certification, so always ask to see the AS 5039 test documentation for the exact product being quoted.
Do I need a licensed installer for a security door in NSW?
Yes. Security work in NSW is regulated, and correct installation under AS 5040 is essential because a tested door can still fail if fixed badly. Shire Security Doors and Screens installs under NSW Master Security Licence #000105713 and is an NSSA member, so the work is accountable and to standard.
How can I prove a security door is compliant?
Ask the supplier for the AS 5039 test report for the specific product, and confirm the installer is licensed to install to AS 5040. A genuine supplier can produce this documentation. If a quote is unusually cheap and no test report can be supplied, treat it as an insect screen rather than a security door.